A DRUNK Carlisle man used what a police constable said was “supernatural” strength as he violently resisted being arrested, leaving one officer with a broken nose, a court heard.

When the officers finally overpowered 32-year-old Aaron Sewell, he was found to be carrying a large knife in his waistband.

The defendant, of South Street, Carlisle, admitted an actual bodily harm assault on the police officer; assaulting an emergency worker, a second police officer; and possessing a knife in public with no reasonable excuse.

Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson described the offending, which happened on Saturday, July 7, when Sewell appeared at Carlisle Crown Court.

Police were called out to a property Henderson Road, Currock, shortly before 6pm after a woman called to ask for help, saying that a man was violently attempting to force his way into her house.

Mr Rogerson said: “When the officers responded to the incident, they were told that Mr Sewell had already left the scene on a moped while under the influence of alcohol.

“The officers had arrived at 5.40pm and they could clearly see that there was damage to the woman’s front door. There were two females inside, sitting on a sofa, shaken but uninjured.”

When the officers located Sewell at a property in Mount Pleasant Road, they noticed a black moped at the front of the house. Shortly after they arrived, Sewell emerged, getting on to the moped, said Mr Rogerson.

As he tried to ride away, one of the officers intervened to stop him, at which point the defendant fell to the ground.

“Mr Sewell became extremely aggressive towards [the officer],” said Mr Rogerson. “The officer describes how Mr Sewell burst out into violence, breaking free and swinging his arms, turning to face the officer.”

The officer and the defendant fell to the ground, with the constable's elbow striking the concrete. “It was the strength of Mr Sewell, which was supernatural – I have never experienced anything like it,” said the officer.

After this happened, the second police constable used his Taser on Sewell, who remained angry and agitated, shouting loudly, and refusing to cooperate, the court heard.

The officers radioed for assistance.

Sewell then knocked the second officer to the ground and Sewell, in a “manic state”, got back onto the moped. He accelerated hard, riding through a wooden garden fence to the adjacent garden and colliding with a parked car, it was said.

The officers finally overpowered Sewell after using pava spray on him – but not before he hit the second officer in the face, breaking his nose, said Mr Rogerson.

After his arrest, he claimed somebody in a balaclava had tried to steal his moped and during a confrontation with the man he was hit over the head with a hammer. “He said he’s suffered a blackout up to the point where he was tasered,” continued Mr Rogerson.

The court heard that Sewell’s criminal record comprises 24 previous offences, including assaults and public order crimes and assaulting an emergency worker.

Sophie Johnstone, for Sewell, said the defendant accepted his behaviour that day was “completely abhorrent” and he was wholly remorseful.

“In his words, he says he’s gutted by what has happened,” said the barrister. On the day of the offences, Sewell had consumed a “cocktail” of prescribed and un-prescribed medications and alcohol and this uninhibited him.

“He didn’t realise that it was the police at first,” said the barrister.

Asked about the knife, Sewell said he had it to scare off the person who had tried to take his moped but he had no intention of using it.

Miss Johnstone added: “His partner remains wholly supportive of him; they are planning to get married but that has been on hold due to the situation he is in.

"He struggles significantly with his mental health.”

Judge Nicholas Barker noted that the more seriously assaulted police officer has been told he needs further corrective surgery on his nose. “This is a serious catalogue of offending,” said the judge.

He also noted the risk involved in knife carrying, with the potential for serious injury or even worse.

Judge Barker accepted the mitigation that Sewell, after sobering up, was remorseful and shocked by his own behaviour.

But as he jailed Sewell for 14 months, the judge added: “Assaults on police officers of this nature are rarely ever to be suspended given that the only appropriate punishment can be an immediate custodial sentence.

“The message must go out to the public that if you fight with the police and assault them in this way as they go about their lawful business, serving their community, you will go to prison.”